The right difficulty setting in 007 First Light hinges on one question: are you here for the cinematic spy fantasy or a brutal, tactical challenge? For most players, the answer is Intended mode. It’s the balanced, default experience the game was built around. If you want to feel like Bond without hitting frustrating walls, start there. For veterans seeking a true test of their skills where every bullet counts, Purist offers a punishing but rewarding trial. Novice is best reserved for those who want to focus purely on the story with minimal resistance.
Ultimately, your choice defines the game. Intended is a smooth ride, while Purist transforms key moments—especially shootouts—into high-stakes puzzles that demand mastery of every tool at your disposal.
What are the three difficulty modes?
007 First Light presents you with three options right from the start, but the in-game descriptions are somewhat vague. Here’s a practical breakdown of what each one entails, based on hands-on experience.
Novice: The Story Mode
This is the 'easy' mode, designed for players who are new to third-person action games or simply want to experience the narrative without much friction. Enemies are less accurate, have lower health, and are far less aggressive. You’ll have ample health and a generous supply of gadget resources, allowing you to power through most encounters without needing to perfect your tactics. If you're here for the globetrotting plot and Bond moments, Novice ensures nothing will stand in your way for long.
Intended: The Balanced Experience
This is the game's 'normal' difficulty and the way the developers expect most people to play. It offers a solid challenge without being overly punishing. Enemies are competent, resources are available but not infinite, and you'll need to use your wits and gadgets to get through tougher fights. The game provides helpful UI cues, such as on-screen warnings when an enemy is about to land a melee attack, giving you a window to counter. For your first playthrough, Intended provides the quintessential Bond adventure: you'll feel capable and powerful, but danger is always present.
Purist: The True Test for a 00-Agent
Purist is the 'hard' mode, and it changes the game in several significant ways. The goal here isn't just to make enemies tougher, but to strip away the assists and force you to rely on your own senses and skills. The changes are substantial:
- No Counter Warnings: The on-screen prompt to counter melee attacks is gone. You have to read enemy animations and time your moves perfectly.
- Fewer Gadget Resources: You'll have less energy and fewer materials for your crucial gadgets, forcing you to be more strategic about when you deploy them.
- Reduced Health: Bond is more fragile. Getting caught out in the open during a firefight is a death sentence.
- Tougher Enemies: Foes are more aggressive, more accurate, and can withstand more damage before going down.
Purist mode is for players who want to master the game's systems and feel the tension of being a lone agent behind enemy lines. It’s a demanding but fair challenge that rewards precision and planning.
Is Purist mode fun or just frustrating?
The biggest question for challenge-seekers is whether the hardest difficulty is well-designed. In 007 First Light, the answer is a qualified 'yes'. The experience on Purist is inconsistent, but in a way that creates distinct and memorable gameplay peaks.
For much of the game—during stealth and standard hand-to-hand combat—Purist doesn't feel dramatically different. Even without the counter notifications, enemy tells are clear enough that you can learn the timing. Sneaking remains a perfectly viable and enjoyable strategy. The game doesn't become unfair in these sections; it just demands more attention.
Where Purist mode truly bares its fangs is in the shootouts. These scripted combat sequences, which are relatively manageable on Intended, become brutal and unforgiving. You will die, repeatedly. Enemies hit hard from cover, and your reduced health means a few mistakes will send you back to the last checkpoint. However, this is also where Purist mode shines. It transforms these sections from simple action scenes into complex tactical puzzles. You are forced to use every element of the environment to your advantage, from throwing coffee mugs to trigger lethal falls to methodically planning your route from one piece of cover to the next. Surviving a Purist shootout feels like a genuine accomplishment earned through skill, not just attrition.
007 First Light in-game screenshot
How can you survive Purist mode?
If you take on the Purist challenge, you can't play it like a standard shooter. You need to use every dirty trick and environmental advantage available. The game provides the tools, but it's up to you to find and exploit them.
Use the Environment as a Weapon
Your surroundings are your most effective weapon. In melee and stealth, look for ledges, railings, and cliffs. A simple throw can instantly eliminate an enemy who would otherwise take multiple hits. Luring guards near a drop is an incredibly effective way to thin the herd before a fight even begins. Similarly, throwing any random object—a book, a vase, a wrench—at an enemy near a ledge will almost always knock them over for an instant kill. It’s a cheesy but essential tactic for survival.
007 First Light in-game screenshot
Master the Brute Takedown
The large 'brute' enemies are a massive threat on any difficulty, but on Purist, they can end your run in seconds. A prolonged fight is a losing battle. The most effective strategy is a swift, three-part sequence:
- Charge and Grapple: Immediately charge the brute to initiate a grapple. This stuns them and lets you land a few free hits, especially if you can slam them into a nearby wall or table.
- Follow-Up Grapple: You can often chain a second grapple right after the first for a few more punches before they break free.
- Finish with the Laser: Before they can recover, finish them off with the laser strap gadget. A quick shot to the eyes is an instant kill on these otherwise tank-like enemies. It costs energy, but it's worth it to remove them from the fight immediately.
Prioritize Environmental Targets in Shootouts
When the bullets start flying, your first instinct should not be to shoot at enemies. It should be to scan the environment with your Q-vision. The developers have littered these arenas with objects that can turn the tide.
- Shoot Everything Red: The classic explosive barrel is your best friend. They have a massive blast radius and can often take out multiple enemies at once. More importantly, the explosions can reshape the battlefield, creating new cover for you to use.
- Shoot Everything Blue: If you don't see red, look for blue. Vents, valves, and pipes can be shot to release huge clouds of steam or smoke. Enemies cannot see or shoot you effectively while you are concealed in the smoke, turning you into a predator picking them off from the mist. This is arguably the single most useful tactic for surviving the game's toughest firefights.
007 First Light in-game screenshot
So, which difficulty should you choose?
For your first time through 007 First Light, Intended is the clear recommendation. It delivers the power fantasy and cinematic action the game promises with a fair and balanced challenge. It's a smooth, enjoyable ride from start to finish.
If you're a seasoned action game veteran or plan on a second playthrough, give Purist a try. It demands more from you, but in doing so, reveals the true depth of the game's combat and stealth systems. Overcoming its brutal shootouts is one of the most satisfying experiences the game has to offer. Just be prepared to die a few times along the way.